Aug 6, 2003 By Jenny Susa 3 min read

The National Pike Steam, Gas and Horse Association is preparing for its 23rd annual show that will be held Aug. 8-10. Wilma Frazee helped organize the event and said that it is known as “the largest digging show in the area.”

The association’s special feature this year is the Caterpillar Co., and many examples of their machinery will be on display and in use during the show.

“Many of the antique Caterpillars will be on display and in use to show people how they work,” said Frazee, adding that the display was also to show how this area was developed.

Other attractions at the show include steam engines, rope making, crafts, horse rides, blacksmiths, antique cars and trucks, a rock crusher, saw mill, daily parades and flea markets.

Frazee said the association has added a new blacksmith shop this year as well.

Daily entertainment will include Zake Zellmore and the Traveling Road Show, which Frazee said is an oldies band from the Mount Pleasant area. They will perform Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m.

The SPNJ International Button Box of Strabane, an accordion group that Frazee said plays polkas, is scheduled to perform from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

On Sunday, Deanna Dawn Denning, a local country singer, will entertain from 1 to 5 p.m.

The association’s flyers boast more than 40 craft booths at the event, as well as a variety of good food such as bean soup, barbecued chicken, buffalo burgers and funnel cakes.

Frazee said that in previous years, between 2,500 and 4,000 people have attended the festival.

“A lot of it is based on the weather,” said Frazee. “When it rains, we have less people here, but normally we have a pretty good show.”

Frazee said that children under 12 years of age get free admission to the event.

“The kids always seem to have a good time at the show,” said Frazee, adding that there is a playground on site and a sand pile for them to play in. There are also hayrides available to take the children around the entire site.

“One event the children really get in to is the Pedal Power Tractor Pull,” said Frazee, explaining that the small tractors are hooked to weights and the children pedal to see how far they can pull them. She said they play for points, and the association gives hats and shirts to the winners.

“The best thing about it is that the winners get a chance to go to county, state and then national competitions,” said Frazee. “So when it comes to the pedal pull, the kids are really enthusiastic about it.”

The admission for the event is $4 per person, but on Friday, senior citizens can get in for $2.

The daily hours for the show are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and there will be a church service at 10 a.m. on Sunday. The association’s fairgrounds are located just off Route 40 at Malden, 4 miles west of Brownsville and 20 miles east of Washington.

For more information, contact Wilma Frazee at 724-267-3878 or see the association’s Web site at www.nationalpike.com.